Bale-carrier.



E. H. BOEHME. BALE CARRIER. APPLICATION FILED DEO.16, 1910.

1,007,520. Patented 001. 31, 1911.

WIT N58858: I INVENTOH W @1447 D/YBOE/VM d W h ME? ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT onsrcn.

EDWARD I-I. BOEHME, OF RANKIN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO FRANK CUSTER, OF RANKIN, ILLINOIS.

BALE-CARRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

Application filed December 16, 1910. Serial No. 597,635.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. BOEHME, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Rankin, in the county of Vermilion and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bale-Carriers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in bale carriers, and consists in certain novel features and combinations of parts, hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and easily operated fork of the character specified, especially designed and adapted for lifting material, such as hay, straw, and the like, in bales, which will firmly hold during elevation and transportation, a plurality of bales, and which may be easily and quickly engaged with and released from the bales.

Referring to the drawings forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is a front view of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the frame.

The present embodiment of the invention comprises a frame, composed of a body 1, and arms 2, 3 and 4, extending laterally from the body, in the same direction, and substantially parallel with each other. The arms 2 and 4 are of equal length, and of less length than the arm 3.

The body consists of two portions 1 and 1 arranged at an angle with respect to each other, and an arm extends from each end of the body, and the third arm from the center of the body. A lug 5 extends laterally from the center of the body in'the opposite direction from the arms. A plate 6 is arranged on the front of the frame in front of the central arm 3, and the said plate is offset inwardly at each end toward the frame. The upper end 9 of the plate is superposed on the lug 5, and is secured thereto by rivets 7. .An opening 8 is arranged transversely of the plate end and lug. The arms 2, 3 and 4 of the frame are connected by a cross bar 10, the said bar 10 being pivoted to the lower ends of the arms 2 and 4, by rivets 11, and to the arm 3 intermediate its ends by a rivet 11 The arm 3 is of greater length than the arms 2 and 4, and the lower end of the arm is pointed or spear shaped as shown at 3 A lever 12 is pivoted intermediate its ends,

on the rivet 11 connecting the cross bar with the arm 12, and a similar lever 13 is pivoted intermediate its ends on the rivet 11 connecting the cross bar with the arm 4. Each lever is provided at its lower end with a hooked portion 14, extending inwardly, and at its upper end with an angular portion 15, lying alongside the adjacent portion 1 or 1 of the body 1 of the frame, and registering with the said portion, when the lever is in operative position.

A lever 16 is pivoted intermediate its ends, on the rivet 11 connecting the crossbar 10 with the arm 3, on one side of the cross bar, and a similar lever 17 is pivoted on the same rivet on the other side of the cross bar. Each lever is provided with a laterally extending hook 18, and the levers are oppositely arranged, so that the hook of the lever 16 extends toward the lever 12, and the hook of the lever 17 extends toward the lever 13. The levers 12 and 13 are also oppositely arranged, the hooks of both extending inwardly, and the lever 12 coiiperates with the lever 16, while the lever 13 coiiperates with the lever 17. The lower end 19 of the plate 6is offset inwardly toward the frame, and is superposed on the lever 16, and the rivet 11 passes through the said end 19. The levers 16 and 17 are pivoted near their upper ends, and the upper end of the lever 16 is connected by a link 20 with the lever 13, above the rivet 11. The upper end of the lever 17 is connected in like manner with the lever 12 above the rivet 11 by a link 21.

lVith the above connection, the levers 12 and 17 will swing in the same direction, and the levers 13 and 16 will swing in the same'direction. The body portion of the plate 6 is longitudinally slotted at 22, and a pin 23 is passed through the slot. Links 24 and 25 are arranged at the upper ends of the levers 12 and 13, each link having a longitudinal series 26 of openings in one end. The link 24 is pivoted to the upper end of the portion 15 of the lever 12, by'means of a pin 27, passing through one opening of'the series 26, and a registering opening in. the lever, and the link 25 is connected to the lever 13 by a similar pin 28. The pin 23 before mentioned is provided with a head 29 moving between the plate and the frame, and the said pin passes through the adjacent ends of both links 24 and 25, the said links lapping upon each other at the plate. The

pin is headed or upset outside of the link 24,

and the said link is provided with an extension 30 beyond the pin. An opening 31 is provided in the extension, and a trip rope 32 is tied in the opening. The frame is suspended by means of a rope or cable 33, the said rope being connected with the usual trolley (not shown) for conveying the load to the place of deposit. It will be understood that the usual hoisting mechanism is used with the loader.

In operation, the extension 30 is pressed downwardly toward the bottom of the slot. The links 24 and 25 take the dotted line position of Fig. 1, drawing the upper portions of the levers 12 and 13 inwardly, and swing ing the lower ends outwardly away from each other. levers 12 and 13 and the levers 16 and 17, causes the said levers 16 and 17 to swing in opposite directions, and away from their cooperating levers 12 and 13. That is, the levers 12 and 16 are moved in opposite directions as are also the levers 13 and 17. A bale is engaged between each pair of cooperating hooks, one between the levers 12 and 16, and another between the levers 13 and 17. When so engaged, the extension is moved upward in the slot, and the hooks 14 of the levers 12 and 13 and the hooks 18 of the levers 16 and 17 are pressed into the sides of the bale. The pin 23 occupies the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 1, that is, between the pins 27 and 28, and above a line connecting the pins. The levers are thus locked in engagement with the bales. When the trolley with its load reaches the place of deposit, the trip rope 32 is pulled clownwardly, thus moving the pin 23 toward the bottom of the slot, and drawing the upper ends of the levers 12 and 13 toward each other to release the bales.

It will be evident that while simple, the device is efficient, holding the bales firmly, and without any liability of accidental displacement. The levers cannot become disengaged until the trip rope is pulled.

I claim? 1. A device of the character specified, comprising a frame composed of a body having three lateral arms spaced apart from each other and extending substantially parallel and in the same direction, the central arm being of greater length than the other arms and having a pointed free end, said body having a central lateral perforated lug extending in the opposite direction from the arms, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to each of the endarms, each lever having an inwardly projecting hook at its lower end, and an inwardly extending angular portion at its upper end, a plate having a longitudinal slot arranged in front of the central arm, the end of the plate being offset toward the frame and connected thereto, a

The connection between the link pivoted to the upper end of each of the levers, a pin in the slot of the plate connecting the links, and having a head on the opposite side of the plate from the link, one of said links being extended beyond the pin to form a trip arm, a rope secured to the trip arm, a lever pivoted on each side of the cen-' tral arm, each lever having a hook, a link connecting one of the levers to one of the levers on the end arms, a link connecting the other lever with the lever on the other end arm, said links being on the opposite sides of the pivots from the hooks, the hook of each central lever extending in the opposite direction from the lever to which it is connected, the slot in the plate extending above and below the connection of the link with the end levers.

2. A device of the character specified, comprising a frame consisting of a body and three laterally extending substantially parallel arms, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to each end arm, a lever pivoted on each side of the central arm, a link connecting each of the levers on the central arm to a lever on an end arm, said links being above the pivotal connection of the levers with the frame, a link pivoted to the upper end of each of the end levers, a pin connecting the inner ends of the said links, a guide on the frame for the pin, said guide being parallel with the central arm, and extending above and below the pivotal connection of the link with the end levers, each of the said levers having a laterally extending hook, the hooks of the end levers facing inwardly, and the hook of each end lever facing the end lever to which it is not connected.

3. A device of the character specified, comprising a supporting frame, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to each end of the frame, each lever having an inwardly ex tending hook at its lower end, apin between the levers, a link connecting the upper end of each lever with the pin, a guide for the pin extending above and below the connection of the link with the levers, a trip arm on one link, a pair of levers pivoted to the frame intermediate their ends between the first named levers, each lever having a hook at its lower end, and a connection between the upper end of each lever and one of the end levers, said connections being above the connection of the lever with the frame for constraining the connected levers to move in the.

pin extending above and below the connection of the link with the levers, a trip arm on one link, a pair of levers pivoted to the frame intermediate their ends between the first named levers, each lever having a hook at its lower end, a connection between each central lever and an end lever for constraining the levers to move in the same direction, the hooks of the levers moving in opposite directions facing each other.

5. A device of the character specified, comprising a frame, a plurality of pairs of oppositely arranged gripping levers on the frame, each lever being pivoted intermediate its ends to the frame, the innermost lever of each pair having a common pivot, a connection between the innermost lever of each pair and the outermost lever of the other pair above the connection with the frame, a pin, a guide for the pin, a link connecting each of the outermost levers with the pin,

said guide extending above and below the connection of the links with the levers, and a trip arm connected with the pin.

6. A device of the character specified, comprising a frame, a plurality of pairs of oppositely arranged gripping levers on the frame, each lever being pivoted intermediate its ends to the frame, the innermost lever of each pair having a common pivot, a connection between the innermost lever of each pair and the outermost lever of the other pair above the connection with the frame, a common means for swinging the levers of each pair toward and from each other, and means for locking the levers in open or closed position.

EDWARD H. BOEHME.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM L. SPEAK, GERTRUDE WILLIAMS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

